CombineNet Concludes @TheSource 2012, its First International Customer Conference Devoted to Advanced E-Sourcing Technology and Best Practices

PITTSBURGH, March 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CombineNet, Inc., the leading provider of best-in-class online sourcing technology solutions for global supply chains, concluded last week the company's first global customer and partner conference with a focus on e-sourcing management strategy and advanced sourcing technology best practices. The conference, called @TheSource, was held February 27-29 at the Fairmont hotel in Pittsburgh, the city of CombineNet's headquarters, and had the theme of "Where Sourcing Leaps Forward" – a nod to the leap year date, but also to the larger message of the event.

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Nearly 100 were in attendance, including executives responsible for strategic sourcing, spend management, and procurement, as well as hands-on users of the CombineNet ASAP® advanced e-sourcing software product. Partners spanned channel resellers, consulting firms, third-party logistics (3PL) solution providers, and technology firms. 

"We received outstanding praise from attendees of CombineNet's @TheSource 2012. Our premiere conference focused 100 percent on delivering strategic sourcing thought leadership, as well as showcasing technology implementation best practices and business solution case studies. It also helped provide invaluable training and idea-sharing opportunities for both new and experienced users of our e-sourcing product," said Rich Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of CombineNet. "We believe the event filled a niche in delivering sourcing-specific educational content and access to peer networking, and we are very pleased at the positive feedback from our customers."

The program agenda included these key highlights:

• A Keynote presentation from Henrik Larsen, Vice President of Group Procurement at A.P. Moller-Maersk Group.
• A Management Solutions track in which CombineNet customers presented business case studies across sourcing all categories of spend: direct materials, indirect materials and services, and transportation. Customer presenters hailed from industries including retail, education, consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and manufacturing.
• An Advanced Topics track for presentations led by both CombineNet Best Practices Center professionals and several CombineNet consulting partners.
• A Hands-On Training track for users of CombineNet ASAP to deepen their e-sourcing skills through the application of product features.
• Roundtable discussions on topics that included: Driving Adoption of E-Sourcing Technology Solutions; Current Transportation Procurement Challenges & Strategies; Enhancing Supplier Collaboration, Innovation & Communication; and Management of Center-Led Sourcing to Capture More Spend.
• Information on CombineNet's recently launched offerings in Spend Analysis and Contract Management.

To see more details about who presented at CombineNet @TheSource 2012, please visit the conference website at: http://www.combinenet.com/conference2012

About CombineNet

CombineNet, Inc. delivers award-winning best-in-class e-sourcing software solutions through its products CombineNet ASAP® for advanced e-sourcing, CombineNet Spend Analysis, and CombineNet Contract Management. Using these Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)-based sourcing products, CombineNet customers can rapidly adopt proven solutions for increasing spend under management and improving enterprise spend insights. Now in its twelfth year in business, CombineNet is known for its track record in driving significant bottom-line and productivity savings for its clientele which includes: Procter & Gamble, General Mills, Sears, Johnson & Johnson, A.P. Moller-Maersk, Bayer, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Reckitt Benckiser, AstraZeneca, and many more Global 2000 firms. www.combinenet.com

SOURCE CombineNet, Inc.